Crisis Looms In Ondo Community Over Monarch’s Coronation Anniversary

Crisis is brewing in Idepe-Okitipupa in Okitipupa Local Government area of Ondo State over the plan by the monarch of the town, Jegun of Idepe to celebrate the 20th coronation anniversary.

The monarch of the town, Oba Adetoye Obatuga had planned to celebrate the 20th coronation anniversary despite the fact the High Court and Court of Appeal have sacked him from the throne.

However,  the contenders to the throne through their lawyers, Adekola Olawuyi SAN and Kehinde Aladeduntire said the celebration would plunge the community into needless war by those for and against the monarch of the town.

In the petition to the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr Kayode Egbetokun, the lawyers said the way the State Commissioner of Police is handling the case might jeopardize the peace of the community.

The petition reads in part: “It is disturbing that despite providing relevant pieces of information and documents concerning the Jegun Chieftaincy tussle in their community, the Commissioner of Police rather than caution Prince Michael Adetoye Obatuga to desist from action capable of undermining the existing peace in the community gave his endorsement to his plans to disobey clear and subsisting declarations of the competent court.

“What is more worrisome is the fact that the Commissioner of Police further threatened that he would not hesitate to arrest our clients in case of any breach of peace in the community.

“We are indeed very surprised at these prejudicial stances of the Commissioner of Police even as he, the Commissioner maintained that he would carry out any directive of his former boss.

“It is on record that in the year 2005, the community was plunged into serious security risks and breakdown of law and order on account of the attempt by Prince Michael Adetoye Obatuga and his stooges to carry out the function as an Oba in disobedience to the judgment of the court leading to murder of many and destruction of properties, and various degrees of violence.

“Since the said incident, there have been warnings against similar events such as the one Prince Michael Adetoye Obatuga and his stooges are planning in Idepe-Okitipupa.”